osteopenia vegan

cwtir08 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:35 am **Posts:** 1

Just turned 60 years old and had a DEXA scan done after 2 1/2 years and was surprised to see that my bone density has decreased significantly. I've been a vegan for the last 2 years, exercise regularly and eat a very healthy varied diet. I don't smoke and drink moderately. My multi vitamin has 200 mg calcium and 1000 iu of Vit D in it. I also take 680 mg of strontium daily. Why would such a change happen?

Gweithgar · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:21 am

Here are some good articles for you to read:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/med_hot_osteoporosis.html

The quick and somewhat flippant answer is that once your reproductive years are past (as mine are) you don't need the highly mineralized bones you had when you were potentially growing a fetus and then nursing it. Osteopenia is an invented disease which gives doctors another reason to give you expensive tests and expensive and possibly harmful medications. Poke through the articles in the link. They should be reassuring.

ETeSelle · **Joined:** Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:09 am **Posts:** 5093

I recommend reading through these links:

http://www.drmcdougall.com/med_hot_osteoporosis.html

Esp. this one:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2012nl/jan/fav5.htm

Dr. McDougall wrote:

The use of the BMD measurement is a classic example of “disease mongering:” turning healthy people into patients. This business-building approach begins by defining a disease with a test that will identify a large market of people as potentional customers. In this case BMD captures about two-thirds of women over the age of 40.
[SNIP]
Osteopenia is a natural thinning of the bones that occurs as women age and does not result in unprovoked fractures. To repeat, this is a “natural thinning of the bones.” The mineral content of bones decreases due to physiological changes intended to maintain the highest efficiency of a woman’s body. Here is why it works this way: The biologic purpose of a woman is to reproduce offspring. To accomplish this, during her reproductive years she must store large amounts of minerals, including calcium, in her bones for the future growth of her fetus and for producing her breast milk for two years postpartum. Assessing her bones with a BMD test during these times will detect a plentiful supply of minerals.

After menopause a woman no longer needs these extra depots of minerals; they become unnecessary baggage. In the interest of efficiency, her body sheds the excess, and as expected, her BMD is found to be much diminished. Thus, she fails the test when she is compared with an inappropriate and unrealistic norm. “Normal” is defined by the bone status of a healthy 30-year-old adult female in her prime reproductive years. You can learn how these standards were created, and how the disease osteopenia was invented (with the help of three pharmaceutical companies), by listening to this very interesting National Public Radio (NPR) broadcast. [ http://www.npr.org/2009/12/21/121609815 ... escription ]

Hope that helps!

Gweithgar · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:37 am

Here's another link, if you want a laugh:
http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/fu ... lture.html

Serioulsy funny!

Langeranger · **Joined:** Sun Aug 09, 2009 7:33 pm **Posts:** 244

Hi cwtir, Good suggestions here from the other posters. I too have had your experience. Lots of weight-bearing exercise, calcium-rich plant-foods and still got dx'd with the "invented" disorder. My cheap advise. Load up on kale, put a little load on your bones (which from the sound of your post you're already doing), don't go overboard on protein, and enjoy your life. The osteopenia crowd are best disregarded. IMHO. "good eatin'," Don

giddyupgin · **Posted:** Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:33 pm

Some really good advice. Thanks Etselle!

talkingmountain · **Joined:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:24 am **Posts:** 1272

There's an excellent article on NPR called The Manufacturing of Disease. Describes how osteopenia came to be classified as a "disease" though it's relevant to many of today's "health conditions". You can search the NPR archives for it.

never give up · **Joined:** Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:59 am **Posts:** 142

Not trying to hijack cwtir08's post, but I have questions on osteopenia that arose after reading the answers/suggestions on this thread. (If I should make my own post please tell me, just feeling my way around here)

I was diagnosed with osteopenia a few years ago.

My questions come after reading on here that osteopenia is "an invented disease". Is that also true for folks that have likely thinned their bones from prescription drugs and from the diseases they have that can cause bone loss? Like in my case Chrones disease.

I have had to take steriods due to uncontrolled Chrones and MS flares. I also have been on Gerd meds for a number of years, which I believe can also thin your bones. Then toss in early onset menopause from a total hysterectomy....

I intend to try to turn things around, as best I can, with diet and do my best to get off the drugs as well. I am still left with the question. Is my osteopenia real?

shell-belle · **Posted:** Fri May 11, 2012 12:05 pm

Years ago I was found to have osteopenia. This was age 50-something. I am now 64. My doctor wanted to put me on Fosamax and I refused. I began walking even more than i was doing & I began going
to the gym and doing weight training more regularly and I took more calcium & magnesium. My bone density improved slightly.
I was glad and I continued for 3 years doing my weight training regularly & walking more. Then I had a bone density test
that showed a slight decline. Then I began taking vit D & following year, at my physical, my doctor once again brought up
the Fosamax. I refused again. She mentioned the previous year's bone density test & so I asked for a repeat bone density
test. She said oh it's not going to show any improvement & we don't like to give bone density tests but every 3 years. I
became the broken record and said I was not going to go on Fosamax or even consider it without another bpne density test.
So she agreed to send me. The results showed an INCREASE in my bone density. I'm thinking it must have been the vitamin D.
Anyway my doctor just said to keep doing what I was doing. If i had gone and done what she suggested I could have been
put on a Rx drug I did not not need and one that has been shown to be damaging! I have great respect for doctors but
we can't just blindly follow what they say to do.

never give up · **Joined:** Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:59 am **Posts:** 142

Thanks shell-belle for your reply. I am with you 100% percent about not going on Fosamax without trying to fix the issue yourself first, like you did. I am not going to take it either.

My mother was on Fosamax for a number of years for osteoporosis. She fell, broke her hip and passed away from complications. Now we are finding out that long term use of Fosamax can cause the very problem it is supposed to fix.

Scarey too is how many drugs have been taken off the market in just the last few years. When you think of all the people that have been put on these things.................

Caroveggie · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 7:50 pm

I read Senior Fitness by Ruth Heidrich, PhD and she has great bone density but she gets a ton of exercise, out in the sun, and eats a lot of greens. I think she eats raw. She is one of the Star McDougallers. Maybe an increase in exercise and replace anything making blood ph acidic with more greens and non-acidic starches. And get sun.

Melinda · **Posted:** Mon May 14, 2012 8:14 pm

A good friend of mine was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 58! She does eat a mainstream diet, but extremely little junk food, but still regular animal products, plus takes TONS of supplements. The thought occurred to me recently that she always avoids the sun, and has absolutely no sun damage to her skin. I wonder if she developed osteoporosis due to lack of vitamin D from the sun.

Wild4Stars · **Posted:** Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:31 am

Gweithgar wrote:

Here's another link, if you want a laugh:
http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/fu ... lture.html

Serioulsy funny!

You're right - seriously funny. Thanks.

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